|
Representative Don Young, a Republican, was answering
questions on Monday from an initially friendly crowd of students
and teachers at Wasilla High School when the politician said
suicide can be attributed to a lack of support from family and
friends, principal Amy Spargo said.
The mood in the room was already tense after Young, 81, who is
the state's only member of the House of Representatives, made
other blunt comments, including mentioning bull sex while
discussing gay marriage, and some of the roughly 120 students in
attendance spoke up to challenge Young, Spargo said.
"When someone is disrespectful, we call foul. That's what the
students did. They called foul," Spargo said.
"The most emotion the students showed was them saying you're
wrong about people who commit suicide," she said. "Our friend
had support."
Young's comment in the town, located about 45 miles (72 km)
northeast of Anchorage, came after a student recently killed
himself, Spargo said. Alaska has long had one the highest rates
of suicide per capita in the country.
"(Young) discussed what he believes are leading causes of youth
suicide in our state and shared some suggestions for helping
family members and friends who are dealing with suicidal
thoughts," spokesman Matt Shuckerow said in a statement.
"In no way did Congressman Young mean to upset anyone with his
well-intentioned message. In light of the tragic events
affecting the Wasilla High School community, he should have
taken a much more sensitive approach," Shuckerow said.
Shuckerow said Young has communicated with Wasilla High School
Administration his regret for any offense taken during "the
honest and spirited discussion".
It was unclear when the student killed himself.
(Reporting by Steve Quinn in Juneau, Alaska; Editing by Eric M.
Johnson, Alex Dobuzinskis and Leslie Adler)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
|
|
